Apparatus and method for comparing recorded information



March 12, 1957 E, M s, MCWHIRTER Er AL 2,785,388

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COMPARING RECORDED INFORMATION Filed Dec. 8,1954 March 12, 1957 E. M. s. MCWHIRTER ET A1. 2,785,383

APPARATUS AND METHOD EOR OONPARING RECORDED INFORMATION Filed Dec. 8,1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2.

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APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COMPARING RECORDED INFORMATION Filed Dec. 8,1954 9 Shets-Sheet 3 EJEC" .SOLENOID /Z 4-LEVEL B/A/ARY -4; J, 6+ 1. 3

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APPARATUS AND METHOD RoR CDMRARING RECORDED mRoRMATIDN Filed Deo. 8,41954 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS TM 5. MCWHWPEI? ATTORNEY March 12, 1957E. M. s. MCWHIRTER Er AL 2,785,388

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COMPARING RECORDED INFORMATION Filed Dec. 8,1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 8.

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APPARATUS AND METHOD ROR COMRARING RECORDED INFORMATION Filed Dec. 8,1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 9. B+ B+ March 12, 1957 E. M. s. MCWHIRTERET' AL 2,785,388

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COMPARING RECORDED INFORMATION 9 Sheets-Sheet'T MAAND Filed Dec. 8. 1954 AAAA Ul Ul UU. Ul .Ul

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APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COMPARING RECORDED INFORMATION Filed DeQ. 8,1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 FE 4 (ra F/6 M) Fc March 12, 1957 E. M. s.MCWHIRTER ET AL 2,785,388

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR OOMRARING RECORDED INFORMATION Filed Dec. 8,1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 FIG. I4.

Arran/FY United States Patent 0 APPARATUS AND Maraton ron CoMPARINonncononn inauguration Eric Malcolm Swift ,McWhirten Rye, and Stanleytiene dict 0st, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignors to iuternationai StandardElectric Corporation, ANew York, Nq Y., a corporation ofDeiawareApplication December S, 1954, Seri-ai No. 473,972 14 Claims. (Cl.S40-149) This invention relates to electronic systems for automaticallyselecting desired items of information from a multiplicity lof items ofrecorded information.

While theiinvention may be adapted to a wide variety of business,scientiiic and philosophical applications, it is particularly applicableto, and will be described in connection with, a system which enables arapid comparison of information contained on a document, such as asignature on a check, with a particular record or specimen automaticallyselected from a multiplicity of similar records or specimens.

According to one feature of the invention apparatus for selectingautomatically a particular record from a multiplicity of similar recordsunder control of a controlling member bearing coded indicia, comprises afilm on which is photographed a multiplicity of similar records togetherwith coded indicia particular to the respective records, a projector forthe iilm including means for sequentially projecting such records on ascreen, sensing means for reading the coded indicia on the controllingmember, a first registering means actuated by the sensing means forrecording the last mentioned indicia, light sensitive means for scanningsequentially the coded indicia on the lm, a second registering meansactuated by such light-sensitive means for sequentially recording thecoded indicia borne by said film, a comparing device for cornparing theindicia recorded in the rst registering means with the coded indiciarecorded in turn in the second registering means, and means for stoppingthe iilm projector when correlation exists between the coded indiciarecorded in the two registering means.

According to a further feature of the invention apparatus for enablingthe correlation of information contained on a document with a particularone of a multiplicity of similar records, comprises a holder for thedocument provided with a track of magnetic material encoded with indiciaparticular to information borne by the document, a iilm on which isphotographed a multiplicity of similar records together with codedindicia particular to the respective records, a projector includingmeans for sequentially projecting the records upon a screen `from theiilm, a reading head for scanning magnetically encoded indicia on theholder, first registering means actuated by the reading head forrecording the indicia borne by the holder, light sensitive means forscanning sequentially the coded indicia on the film, second registeringmeans actuated by such light sensitive means for sequentially recordingthe coded indicia borne by the lm, comparing means for comparing theindicia recorded on the first registering means with the coded indiciarecorded in turn in the second registering means, and means for stoppingthe iilm projector when correlation exists between the indicia recordedin the two registering means.

The above and other features of the invention will be umore clearly`understood from a consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which ice Fig. lis a block diagram of `asystem according tovone embodiment of ourinvention;

Fig. 2 shows a bank customers account card;

Fig. 3 is a table showing the binary code used in representing thecustomers account number on the account cards and on plastic jacketsenclosing `checks to be proeessed;

Fig. i shows a portion of amicroilm on which the customers account cardsare photographed in ascending order of account number and which alsoshows a readout head consisting of tive photccells;

Fig. 5 illustrates the apparatus for handling the jacketed checks;

Fig. 6 is a circuit diagram of a shifting register;

Fig. 7 is a Wave form diagram showing the waveforms derived from thecodeand counter tracks on the jacket enclosing a check;

Fig. 8 is a chart used to explain the operation of the shifting registerof Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a circuit diagram of a jacket numerical marker in which thecustomers account number as read-olf from the check jacket is recorded;

Fig. 10 is a circuit diagram of a ilm speed and stop control circuit;

Fig. ll is a circuit diagram of a iilm readout register into which thecustomers account numbers on the film frames are read;

Fig. l2 is a wave form diagram showing the wave forms derived from thecode counter track on the'iilm;

Fig. 13 is a circuit diagram of a frame marker which records the accountnumbers fon the `customers account cards photographed on the iilrn asthe film is run through the projector, and

Fig. 14 .is a circuit diagram of a control circuit associated with theframe marker of Fig. 13.

in all the gures gas tubes ina normally fired condition are showncross-hatched to indicate that condition.

A general description of the system and its operation will irst be givenwith reference to Fig. l. A check, the signature on which is to becompared with the specimen signature on the customers account card, isenclosed in a transparent plastic holder vor jacket i having along itstop edge a strip of magnetic material Z encoded with customers accountnumber in the binary code, lfollowed by a stop signal, and with acounter track from which is derived pulses used in the control of theelectronicequip ment. The signature account cards are pre-punched withthe same binary code representing the particular customers accountnumber or with blacked-in circles acccrding to the binary code. rihesecards are photographed in ascending numerical order on a microiilrnwhich is run through a projector i5 with `which is associated aphotocell reading head PC. ln the example chosen, each digit of thecustomers tour-digit account number is represented by a binary tourelement level, a fifth level comprises a stop signal, and fifth element'in each level being used to derive counter and control signals used finthe control of the electronic equipment.

The code track on the check jacket l is scanned by a magnetic readinghead RHll, the output of which is fed through a differentiating circuitDCI, an amplifier Al, a ip flop circuit Fill, a multivibrator MVR and areconstituting circuit lCi, to produce positive and negative biassignals +P and -N corresponding to the encoding on the magnetic strip(see Fig. 7). The counter track on the strip 2 is scanned simultaneouslyby a second reading head lil-l2, the output of which is fed throughsimilar circuits DCE, A2, FP2, MVZ, RC2 to derive changeover pulses C atthe beginning of each code bit and miduises M at the middle of each codebit The positive and ynegative bias signals +P and -N together With the`change-over pulses C and midpulses M are ape arenoso 3 plied to ashifting register SR comprising two banks or columns of 20 gas tubes onwhich the four digits of the account number and the stop signal on thejacket i are recorded in binary form. When the stop signal is rel ceivedby the register SR, the account number stored therein is transferred toa jacket numerical marker JNM where it is recorded in decimal form onfour columns of 10 gas tubes NTH, NH, NT, NU. The receipt of the stopsignal in the register SR also causes a control circuit CC to start amotor 14 to drive the film projector Tad at high speed to find the frameof the iirst account card the thousands digit of the account number ofwhich is -the same as the thousands digit of the account number of thejacketed check which is being processed.

The outputs from the four photocells P1 P4 are fed to a readout registerRR comprising two columns of 4 gas tubes FA, FB in which the four digitsof the account number encoded on the first frame are successively readout in binary form and transferred and recorded in decimal form digit bydigit in a frame marker FM cornprising four columns of gas tubes FTI-I,FH, FT, FU, one for each digit.

The output of the fifth photocell P is passed through an amplifier A3, aflip flop circuit FFB, a multi-vibrator MVS and a pulse forming circuitRC3 to derive three sets of timed pulses A, B and R which are used tocontrol the operation of the control circuit CC, the readout register RRand the frame marker FM. The A pulses control the transfer of the digitsregistered in RR to the correct column in the marker FM and the R pulsesinitiate the resetting of the register RR after each binary digit levelhas been scanned.

As the account number on each frame is recorded in the frame marker FM,the thousands digit recorded therein is compared in the control circuitCC with the thousands digit encoded on the check jacket l and recordedin the jacket numeral marker JNM. The control circuit CC comprisesthousands, hundreds, tens and units comparing or found tubes TH, HU, TNand UN. When the first account card frame is reached with the thousandsdigit corresponding to that of the account number of the jacketed checkbeing processed, the thousands found tube TH is tired on the arrival ofthe next B pulse, and causes the deenergization of a speed relay HSRwhich at contacts HSRI removes a shunt from a resistance R1 in thecircuit of a speed clutch MC interposed between the motor 14 and theprojector l5, thereby causing the projector to run at medium speed. Thecontrol circuit CC now compares the hundreds digits registered in thejacket marker JNM with those successively registered in the frame markerFM as the film continues to move at medium speed. When correspondenceexists, and the next B pulse arrives, the hundreds found tube HU istired, speed relay MSR is deenergized, and a shunt is removed also fromresistance R2 in the circuit of the speed clutch MC, causing theprojector to be run at low speed. The tens digits registered are nowcompared and when correspondence exists, the tens found tube TN firesand deenergizes relay LSR which inserts a further resistance R3 incircuit with the clutch MC, to cause the projector to be driven at slowspeed. When correspondence exists between the units digit encoded on thecheck jacket 1 and the units digit encoded on the lm frame being scanned(and, therefore, when correspondence exists between the two completeaccount numbers) the units found tube UN 'lires on the next B pulse, andenergizes a relay UR which closes the circuit of a magnetic brake BC,operable on the drive shaft between the motor 14 and the projector 15.The projector drive is thus arrested and the frame of the selectedaccount card will be projected on the viewing screen to permit signaturecomparison by the operator.

A more detailed description of the system and its operation will now begiven with reference to Figs. 2 to 14 of the drawings, the equipmentbeing described concurrently with an explanation of the operation of thesystem.

The customers account cards may be in the form shown in Fig. Z. Eachcard bears the signature of the bank customer, a three digit number(020) representing the number of the bank branch and a four digit number(463) representing the customers account number in the bank. On the topright-hand corner of the card tive horizontal lines of holes or circlesare prepunched or blacked-in to correspond with the customers accountnumber in binary code. The binary code is shown in 3 it being noted thateach digit is separately converted into its binary form in the tirstfour rows of holes, the iifth row being used to denote a stop signalwhich is used to re-set certain of the electrical equipment as wiii beexplained later. A fifth hole at the left-hand side of each binary levelis used to generate counting pulses as will be more fuily described inthe description of the operation of the system.

The card when completed, is placed atop a black background against aright-angle stop on a table rigidly iixed to a microfilm camera, and isphotographed on a 16 mm. iilrn. The card is thus reduced to l/lg of itsoriginal size permitting more than 3600 signature cards to beaccommodated on a l0() foot roll of iilm. With the cards photographed inascending numerical order of account number, a particular frame may befound and projected by means of an electronic frame iinder which will bedescribed later. `Fig. 4 shows a section of the film the arrowindicating its direction of travel in the projector. The lilm, being anegative, will be transparent where the original card showed black,hence projected light through a lens will enlarge the image and passthrough these transparent areas to activate ve photocells P1 P5 mountedin a row to constitute a tive channel readout head.

The checks to be processed are enclosed in individual transparentplastic holders or jackets l, Fig. 5, along the top edge of which isapplied a magnetic metal strip 2 encoded with the customers accountnumber in the same binary code as indicated in Figs. 3 and 7. Adjacentthe code track is encoded a counter track for generating counting andcontrol pulses used in the operation of the electronic equipment. inapplying the encoded indicia, the code track is magnetized to saturatednegative polarity by a D. C. controlled head, and the counter trackneutralized by an A. C. controlled head, both preceding the magneticwriting heads. The encoding may be controlled by a keyboard so that thecode writing head magnetizes the strip to positive polarity saturationfor each l bit leaving saturated negative polarity for cach O bit.Following the units digit code there is applied a stop code consistingof 4 positive bits. The code counter writing head magnetizes tosaturation one bit of opposite polarity for each succeeding bit on thebinary code track (see Fig. 7). The manner in which the strip 2 ismagnetically encoded forms no part of the present invention and will notbe further described since equipment for this purpose is well-known inthe art.

Reverting to a consideration of Fig. 5, a batch of ercoded jackets lcontaining checks to be processed for signature comparison, is stackedon a platform 3 and held by pressure of one or more springs d so thatthe front jacket engages a pair of guides 5. A lm projector is enclosedin a housing box 6 provided at its front end with a viewing screen 7disposed above and to the left ol the jacket platform 3. A pair ofread-out heads 8 are mounted so as to scan the magnetized strip 52 on ajacket l as it is moved from the stacked position to the inspectionposition beneath the viewing screen 7 in the following manner. A key orpush button 9 on the operators desk, when thrown, closes circuits fortwo solenoid niagnets itt, lll. Solenoid lil is arranged to rotate onarm 12 the edge of which engages the edge of the 'first check jacket lin the stacked position and pushes this jacket in the guides 5 past theread-out heads S to the inspection esmsss position. Solenoid 11 attheSametime Withdrawsatstop member i3 from lthe pathofthejacket previouslyin the inspection position and permits it to be ejected and replaced bythe new check jacket.

Jacket register, Fig. 6

The circuit of the jacket register is shown in Fig. 6 and consrs of twobanks each of 2() quick-act`ing gas tubes which may be of the typedisclosed in U. S. Patent No. Z,63l,26l issue-d March l0, i953. One bankcomprises tubes RAL RAZ RAN, and the other tubes REL RB?. RBZQ?. Thepositive and negative bias signals P and N derived from the code trackread ofi`- from the check jacket, and the change-over pulses C andmidcode element pulses M derived from the counter track on the jacket(see Fig. 7) are applied to the trigger electrodes of the gas tubes KAand RB as indicated in the drawing. Fig. 8 is a chart showing thecondition of the register of Fig. 6 during each of the 16 time intervalsduring the reading of the first two digits (i. e. 4 thousand and 6hundreds) orf the account number of the check in the jacket which isbeing processed. The vertical columns indicate the RA and RB tubes inthe fired condition, all the RB tubes being tired except when an RA tubeis indicated as conducting.

The numbers as read by the head are shifted in the register in thefollowing manner. All the tubes RB are tired at the end of processing ofthe preceding check. in interval l. the iirst change-over pulse C, whichis coincident with negative (N) bias, has no effect on the RAZ, RAS RAZ@or any of the tubes RB. In interval 2, the mid-pulse M with negativebias N has no effect on tube lAl. `in intervals 2i and 4 the C and Mpulses like- Wise do nothing, and in interval the C pulse is Withouteffect on the RAZ, RAS RAZ@ and the RB tubes, and the positive bias (P)is without effect on tube RAE. Not until an lvl pulse at the center of acode signal and the positive bias i are coincidentally applied to tubeRAl in interval o does anything happen. At this time both rectifier Riand R2 are blocked and a positive pulse is supplied over condenser C1 tothe trigger of RAT; vwhich with the iixed bias is suhicient to tire thistube. The resultant change of anode potential extinguishes tube R131over condenser C2, and bias RAl blocks rectier R3 which connected over acondenser C3 to the trigger RAZ. The next C pulse in interval 7 blocksrectifier R4- also, whereupon tube `RAZ tires and extinguishes tube REZ.This C pulse also fires RB which douses RAL No action takes place duringthe next M pulse in interval S, at the end of which RBi, R33, RAQ, andREE are red representing fllt), the four bits of the binary code forthousands number 4. The next C pulse in interval 9 ignites RAB (sincerectifier R5 is blocked by RAZ) which douses RBB). This C pulse alsofires RB?. since rectifier R6 is blocked by bias REL Nothing thenhappens until interval ll when the next change-over pulse C hres RAi andRBS. rTube RA@ douses F.3d. in interval l2, the coincidence of positivebias P and the mid-pulse M again fires RA which douses The next C pulseinterval i3, tires RBI. which douses RAR and tires RAZ `which dousesREZ. it also ires which douses RA-"t and fires RAS which douses The nextM pulse coincident with positive bias i2 in interval ifi again hres E Alwhich douses RBB.. The next C pulse in interval i5 fires Risi whichdouses RAL hres RAS which douses RBS, and fires RAe which douses Rif-io.This C pulse also `tires RBS which denses RAS. The pulse M in intervalle does nothing and in this interval the register reads RBS, RBI', RAG,RBS (081D) and RBK, RAS, RAZ, RB (Oll). Thus the thousands number 4 inthe register has been shifted to make Way for the hundreds number 6. Thetens and units digits and the stop signal (lill) are recorded in theregister in the same manner, the records being shifted down until thestop signal is read as RAL RAZ, RAS, RAl.

`decimal code.

Jacket numerical marker, Fig. 9

This comprises 4 columns of l() gas tubes N0.TH, NH, N0.T, NdU formarking out the thousands, hundreds, tens and units figures of theaccount number encoded on the check jacket in accordance with the Forthis purpose the outputs RAL RBl, etc., of the `tubes of the shittingregister, Fig. 6, are jumpered in the appropriate code combinations tothe corresponding input trigger leads of the marker tubes 9 lee leadsbeing connected in parallel `over blocking rectiiiers to the respectivetrigger electrodes via condensers in known manner. With all the RB tubesof the shitting register of Fig. 6 fired due to the resetting pulse RBderived from processing the preceding check, tubes NiMH-I, NiH, NtT,Null are tired and the marker of Fig. 9 is reset to Zero on the arrivalof the rst change-over pulse C derived from the incoming check to beprocessed. The common B-ianode potential source for each digit columnot' tubes is connected over Vrh, Vim, Vt, Vu and respective anodecircuit resistors to the anodes of all the tubes of the respectivecolumns, so that when a zero tube such as NTH tires the anodes of allthe other tubes in the thousands column go more negative and any tubewhich was conducting due to the processing of the preceding jacket isdoused. This same applies to all the tubes in the hundreds, tens andunit columns.

While the information from the code track on the check jacket is beingreceived by the shifting register, Fig. 6, as previously described, thegas tubes of the latter are (over the outputs RAI., REE, etc.) biasingthe appropriate numerical tubes of the marker of Fig. 9, causing thenumbers to step through this marker. The 4 of the thousands digit firstappears in the units column, the tube NAU being fired on the arrival ofthe next C pulse when the shifting register reads RBS, RBT', RA, RBS. Asfurther numbers arrive the register the rst number (4) steps through themarker, appearing first in the units column, then in the tens column,the hundreds column and the thousands column, The succeeding incomingnumbers do likewise until 4 is in the thousands column (NATH tired), 6in the hundreds `column (No.4 fired), 3 in the tens column (NST fired)and 8 is in the units column (NST tired). At this time the stop signal(llll-RAil, RAZ, RA, RAe) is in the l, 2, 3, d.- (first) section of theregister, a C pulse is coincident and the specimen signature film isstarted advancing in the fol-lowing manner, The marker now holds in itsset position while the lm is scanned to iind the frame with thecorresponding account number.

Film control mechanism and circuit, Fig. `10

The outlets from RAL RAZ, RAE, RAe, Fig. 6 are jumpered in parallel overblocking rectitlers to the trigger oi tube SF, Fig. 1G, which tires whencoincidence exists with a change-over C pulse, and SF douses tube UN.

The tiring or tube SF also applies a positive voltage to a conductorconnected to its cathode. This voltage is applied over a condenser C4 tothe grid of a threeelectrode thermioni'c tube DA. The tube DA isnormally biassed to cut-oirT1 and when the positive voltage arrives atits grid, the tube conducts and its plate Hoes negative and staysnegative for a time depending on the resistance and capacity (the RC) ofits grid circuit. This time is made short so that a negative pulse ofabout 50 usec. appears on the output iead RS, which is fed to thecathode of the speed control tubes LS, MS and HS to hre them. The speedcontrol tubes LS, MS and HS in turn douse tubes TN, HU, TH, UN. Thefunction of tubes UN, TN, HU and TH is to cause the units, tens,hundreds and thousands digits of the account numbers of the signaturecards photographed on the film to be scanned inV turn at successivelyslovverspeeds and these tubes were brought 7 to their fired condition inthe processing of the preceding jacketed check.

When tube UN was doused, relay UR in its anode circuit was deenergizedand contacts Uik opened the circuit of a magnet BC which controls amagnetic brake clutch acting on the driving shaft between an electricmotor i4 and the lm projector 15. The magnetic clutch may be or anyknown type. Tubes LS, MS and HS have connected respectively in theiranode circuits relays LSR, MSR, HSR, contacts of which are arranged toshort-circuit resistors R3, RZ, Ri connected in the energizing circuitof a speed clutch MC for varying the speed at which the motor 14 drivesthe projector 15. The speed clutch may consist of a known form o-f fluidmagnetic clutch inserted in the drive between the motor and projector.With this type of clutch the motor will turn the shaft driving theprojector at a different speed dependent upon the flux linkage in theclutch MC which in turn is controlled by the amount ot current passingthrough its winding.

As already stated, when the shifting register of Fig. 6 records a stopsignal, speed tubes LS, MS, HS, Fig. 10, iire, short-circuits areremoved from resistors Rt, R2, R3 at contacts LSR, MSRT, HSRll and thelm in the projector 15 is driven at high speed by the motor 14.

Film readout register, Fig. il

Four photo-electric cells P1 to P4 (see Figs. 4 and l1) are mounted toreceive light projected through the code track on the film onto anenlarged reading surface. A fifth photocell P (see Fig. 4) is alignedwith the projection ot the counter track. The outputs of the photocellsP1 to P4 are respectively connected to the trigger leads of four gastubes FAT FAi, Fig. 11, forming part of the film readout register.

The output from the counter track photocell P5 is fed to an amplifier A3(see Fig. l), a dip-flop circuit FFS, a multivibrator MV3 and a pulseforming circuit RC3 to obtain three sets of pulses A, B and R of 100jrsec. duration, of the wave form shown in Fig. 12. Such circuits arewell known in the electrical art and it is unnecessary to describe themhere in. detail. Referring to diagram (c) of Fig. l2, the pulses A occur500 ,aseo after the leading edges of the track and the B pulses 1000/tsee after the A pulses. The R pulses occur 500 nsec. after thetrailing edges of the tracks.

The film readout register of Fig. 11 comprises two banks of 4 gas tubesFAI, FAZ, etc., and FE1, FB2, etc., connected in circuits substantiallysimilar to those of the tubes of Fig. 6. The tubes FBI, FB2 are normallyin a fired condition. When light impinges on one of the photocells P1 P4this cell conducts and the potential on the trigger electrode of thecorresponding tube FAI FA4 is raised to cause the tube to fire, The tubeFAl, FAZ, etc., in its conducting condition lowers the anode potentialof the corresponding tube FBI, FB2, etc., causing it to douse. The Rpulses are directed to the rigger electrodes of the tube FBI, FB2, etc.,and cause any which have been doused to be rered after each 4 parallelbit digit code has been scanned by the photocells P1 to P4.

Assuming that the thousands number of the first frame which is scannedby the photocells P1 P4 is 3 then FAI, FAZ, FBS, FB4 will be fired.

Frame marker, Fig. I3

This comprises 4 banks of 10 gas tubes F.TH, FH, F.T, F.U, respectively,for the thousands, hundreds, tens, and units numbers, the circuits ofthese tubes being similar in arrangement and operation to those of thetubes in Fig. 9. The outputs of the tubes FAi FA4, FB1 FB4 of the iilmreadout register, Fig. 11, are jumpered in appropriate code combinationsto the trigger lead of thousands, hundreds, etc., tube banks F.TH, RH,etc., of the frame marker, Fig. 13. The A pulse derived from the countertrack on the film are fed to trigger leads of each of the tubes F.TH,FH, etc., of the frame marker. The thousands, hundreds, tens and unitstube banks of this marker are successively conditioned by the controland digit tubes FC, 1D, 2D, 3D, 4D of the marker control circuit, Fig.14, so that as the photocells P1 P4 scan the code track on the film,each 4 bit code recorded in the readout register, Fig. 11, will be putin the correct bank or column in decimal form.

Referring to Fig. 14, the tube FC was fired by the stop signal, biasfrom tube 4D, and the coincident B pulse from the scanning of thepreceding frame, and bias from this tube FC applied to the trigger leadsof the thousands tubes F.TH of the frame marker conditions them foroperation. When, therefore, the A pulse is derived from the countertrack, the appropriate thousands digit tube F3.TH is fired since thereis coincidental bias on leads A, FAI, FAZ, FBS, FB4 and FC. On the nextB pulse from the counter track, the tube iD of the control circuit ofFig. 14 fires, since it is coincident with bias FC and bias from one ofthe thousands tubes F.TH. Bias from the TD conditions the hundreds tubesFH of the frame marker for operation, and on the next A pulse theappropriate hundreds tube is fired. On the next B pulse tube 2D of thecontrol circuit fires and the tens bank F.T is made ready to record thetens digit. The units digit is recorded in the same manner in the unitsbank F.U after the control tube 3D is fired by the next B pulse. Thesucceeding B pulse fires the control tube 4D and when the stop signal isreceived coincident with the next A pulse the tube FC is re-red.

It may be well to state that at this time the digits of the accountnumber encoded on the jacket containing the check which is beingprocessed, is recorded in the jacket marker of' Fig. 9, and the accountnumber on the lm frame at this time passing through the projector gateis recorded in the frame marker of Fig. 13. The thousands found tube THof Fig. 10 now makes a check of one with the other of the thousandsdigit recorded in these two markers. The biases derived from the cathoderesistors of corresponding tubes (e. g. F.TH and N.THO of the respectivemarkers, are applied in parallel pairs over blocking rectifers to thetriggers of the thousands, hundreds, tens and units found tubes TH, HU,TN, UN, Fig. 10, In the thousands tube TH, for example, each parallelpair is connected in parallel with a B pulse lead and bias from tube FC,and this group of four leads is connected over a separating rectifier tothe trigger of tube TH. The hundreds, tens and units found tubes HU, TN,UN are similarly connected except that these tubes are conditioned bybias from the preceding tube TH, HU or TN instead of from tube FC.

If the thousands digit recorded in the frame marker, Fig. 13, differsfrom the thousands digit in the jacket marker, Fig. 9, and is forexample 3, nothing happens excepting tube FSTH is fired and the filmwill continue to run at high speed until the frame containing accountnumber 4000 is reached. It will be noted that so long as the thousandsdigit of the scanned frame is 3 the A pulse coincident with FAI, FAZ,FBS, FB4 and FC finds tube F3TH already fired. When the thousands #4 isread out from the register of Fig. 11 into the frame marker of Fig. 13,tube F4TH will fire and will douse tube FSTH. Being coincident with thefiring of tube N4TH in the numerical jacket marker of Fig. 9, thc Bpulse will bring up the thousands found tube TH, Fig. 10, which willdouse the high speed tube HS thereby dropping the high speed relay HSRand removing the shunt from resistance R1 in the circuit of the speedclutch MC to cause the 'dim to travel at medium speed. This same B pulsewill bring up the first digit tube 1D in the control circuit, F. 14,which douses tube FC. The film will not continue to move at medium speeduntil the frame containing account number 4600 is reached. With biasesF6H coincident with N6H and bias TH, the

arse-'ase kkB pulse will bring up the hundreds found tube HU whichdouses Vtube MS thereby dropping relay `MSR which at contacts MSRIremoves a shunt from resistor R2, `and causes the film to travel at lowspeed. This same B pulse will bring up the second digit tube 2Dwhichdouses 1D. The film will continue to move at low speed until theframe Vcontaining account number 4630 is reached. When tens digit #3 isread out from the frame register, bias F3T will be applied coincidentwith bias NST and biases TH, HU and the next B pulse will cause the tensfound tube TN to r'ire and dcuse the low speed tube LS, thus `droppingrelay LSR which at contacts LSRi removes the shunt from resistor R3 andcauses the iilm to travel at slow speed. This same B pulse will bring upthe third digit tube 3D which douses The film will continue to move atslow speed for 8 frames or until the trarne containing account #4638 isreached. When units digit #8 is read out from the frame register, biasFSU is applied coincident with biases NSU, TH, HU, TN and the next Bpulse will bring up the units found tube UN, douse the start ilm tube SFand bring up the relay UR. At contacts URl relay UR closes a circuit forthe magnetic brake BC. The lm will not stop at this exact moment, sincethe inertia of the driving system is suiiicient to carry it forward fora short distance while the relay UR is coming up and the brake ilux isbuilding up. The final stop signal is, therefore, received in thereadout register, Fig. l1, While the iilrn is stopping and bias on theleads FAI FA@ and 4D coincident with the next B pulse ionizes tube FC inthe control circuit, Fig. 14 which douses tube 4D, thus resetting thiscircuit ready for dealing with the processing of another jacketed check.

The firing of the units found tube UN also applies a positive voltage'toa conductor connected to its cathode. This voltage is applied over acondenser CS to the grid of a three-electrode thermionic tube D. Thetube D is normally biased to cut-oi and when the positive voltagearrives at its grid, the tube conducts and its plate goes negative andstays negative for a'time depending upon the RC of its grid circuit.This time is made short so that a negative pulse of about 50 lusec.appears on the RB output lead, which is fed to the cathodes of all theRB tubes of the shifting register or Fig. 6 to fire those not alreadyconducting, preparatory to the processing of the next jacketed check tobe decoded.

The frame now found, which corresponds to the account number of thecustomer whose jacketed check is being processed, is projected onto theviewing screen 7, Fig. 5, where it may be viewed by the operator toenable signature comparison. It there is more than one signature for theaccount, these will have been microfilrned in succession on the iiling.The equipment will iind the frame of the first card for that particularaccount, but by actuating a scan key SC, Fig. 10, the operator is ableto release the brake clutch BC and permit the film to be driven at veryslow speed, so that he may observe the other signatures of that accountas the film is advanced.

While the principles of the invention have been described above inconnection with a specitic application and embodiment, it will beunderstood that various modiiications, substitutions and omissions inthe form and operation may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, and that the detaileddescription is made only by way of example and not as a limitation tothe scope of the invention.

What we claim is:

l. Apparatus for correlating information contained on a document with aparticular one ot a multiplicity of similar records, comprising a holderfor said document provided with coded indicia particular to informationborne by said document, a ilm on which said records are sequentiallyrecorded together with coded indicia particular to the respectiverecords, a projector for said film including means for sequentiallyprojecting said records on a screen, first sensing means for readingsaid coded indicia on said document holder, a iirst registering `meansactuated by said iirst sensing means for recording said last-mentionedindicia, second sensing means for scanning sequentialiy the codedindicia on said film, a secc-nd registering means actuated by saidsecond sensing means for sequentially recording said coded indicia borneby said film, means for comparing the indicia recorded in said firstregistering means with the coded indicia recorded in turn in said secondregistering means and means for stopping said tilm projector whencorrespondence exists between -the coded indicia. recorded in said iirstand second registering means.

2. Apparatus for selecting automatically a particular record from amultiplicity of similar records comprising a controlling member providedwith a magnetizable surfac-e encoded with controlling indicia, a tilm onwhich is photographed a multiplicity of similar records together withcoded indicia particular to the respective records, a projector for saidlm including means for sequentially projecting said records on a screen,a reading head for scanning the magnetically encoded indicia on saidcontrolling member, a first registering means actuated by reading headfor recording said indicia, light sensitive means for scanningsequentially the coded indicia on said tiim, a second registering meansactuated by said light sensitive means for sequentially recording saidiastrnentioned coded indicia, means for comparing the indicia recordedin said first registering means with the coded indicia recorded in turnin said registering means and means for stopping said film proiectorwhen correspondence exists between the indicia recorded in said iirstand second registering means.

3. Apparatus for enabling the correlation of information contained on adocument with a particular one of a multiplicity of similar records,comprising a holder for said document provided with a track of magneticmaterial encoded with indicia particular to information borne by saiddocument, a iilm on which is photographed a multiplicity/,cf similarrecords together with coded indicia particular to the respectiverecords, a projector' including means for sequentially projecting saidrecords on a screen from said film, a reading heading for scanning themagnetically encoded indicia on said holder, tirst registering meansactuated by said reading head for recording said indicia, lightsensitive means for scanning sequentially the coded indicia on said nlm,second registering means actuated by said light sensitive means forsequentially recording said last-mentioned coded indicia, means forcomparing the indicia recorded in said first registering means with thecoded indicia recorded in turn in said second registering means, andmeans for stopping said tilm projector' when correspondence existsbetween the indicia recorded in said first and second registering means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3,. further comprising a second trackor" magnetizable material on said holder consisting ot alternateportions magnetized to opposite polarities, a second reading head forscanning said second track, means for deriving electrical pulses fromthe output of said last-mentioned reading head, and means for utilizingsaid pulses for controlling the sequential operation of said firstregistering means.

5. Apparatus according to ciaim 3, comprising a further code track onsaid tilm, light sensitive means for scanning said further track, meansfor deriving electrical pulses from the output of said last-mentionedlightsensitive means, and means for utilizing said pulses forcontrolling the sequential operation of said second registering meansand said comparing means.

6. Apparatus according to claim 3,. further comprising a position onwhich is adapted to be loaded a stack of holders having a documents tobe processed associated therewith, an inspection position, and means fortransferring said holders one at a time from said first-mentionedposition to said inspection position, said reading head being mounted inthe path traversed by said magnetic track on a holder during suchtransfer operation. f V7. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein saidholder is magnetically encoded with a stop signal and further comprisingmeans for recording said stop signal in said first registering and meansresponsive thereto for closing a starting circuit for said lm projector.

8. Apparatus for lenabling the correlation of informa tion contained ona document with a particular one of a multiplicity of similar records,comprising a holder for said document provided with a track of magneticmaterial encoded in binary notation with indicia particular toinformation borne by said document, a film on which is photographed onsuccessive frames a multiplicity of similar records together with codedindicia in binary no-tation particular to the respective records, aprojectorincluding means for sequentially projecting said records on ascreen from said film, a reading head for scanning the magneticailyencoded indicia on said holder, a register for recording in binary formsaid coded indicia borne by said document holder, a numerical marker,means for transferring the record from said register to said numericalmarker in decimal form, a read-out register for recording in binary formsaid coded indicia borne by said film, a frame marker, means fortransferring the recorded digits from said read-out register to saidframe marker in decimal form, comparing means for successively comparingthe numbers respectively marked in said numerical marker and said framemarker as the film is advanced, and

.a control circuit actuated by said comparing means for stopping saidprojector when coincidence exists between said numbers.

9. Apparatus according to claim S wherein each lm frame is encoded witha stop signal and further comprising means for recording said signal andmeans responsive thereto for restoring said control circuit to itsnormal condition preparatory to the processing of another documentholder.

l0. Apparatus according to claim 8, in which said coded indicia on saidholder and on said iilm frames each represent a plurality of digits of anumber and further comprising means in said comparing means for lirstcomparing the highest order digits while said projector is running athigh speed, means in said control circuit responsive to coincidencebetween said highest order digits for reducing the driving speed of saidprojector and for etecting circuit changes in said comparing meanswhereby the latter then compares the next lower digits whilst saidprojector is being driven at lower speed.

1]. Apparatus according to claim l0 in which said control circuitcomprises a relay for each of the digits of said number, means forcontrolling the condition of said relays responsive to coincidencebetween the corresponding digits marked respectively in said numericalmarker and said frame marker, means for stopping said projectorcontrolled by said rel-ay corresponding to the units digit, and meansfor changing the driving speed of said projector controlled by therelays corresponding to higher order digits.

12. Apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a second codetrack on said i'ilm, light-sensitive means for scanning said secondtrack, means for deriving first, second and third sets of timed pulsesfrom the output of said light sensitive means, means for utilizing saidi'irst set of pulses to control the sequential operation of said framemarker, means for utilizing said second set of pulses for controllingthe sequential operation of said comparing means and means for utilizingsaid third set of pulses for resetting said read out register after thetransfer of each digit to said frame marker.

13. Apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a second track ofmagnetizable material on said holder consisting of differentlymagnetized alternate portions, a second reading head for scanning saidsecond track, means for deriving tirst and second sets of timed pulsesfrom the output of said second reading head, means for utilizing saidfirst set of pulses for controlling the sequential operation ot saidregister and numerical marker, and means for utilizing said second setof pulses for marking the arrivai in the register of the mid point ofeach code element read ott from said code track by the first readinghead.

14. Apparatus for enabling the comparison of information contained on adocument with a particular record selected from a multiplicity ofsimilar records, comprising a holder for said document representing anumber consisting of a plurality of digits and allocated to theindividual or account to which said document pertains, a film on whichVis photographed a multiplicity of similar records respectivelypertaining to a multiplicity of individuals or accounts representativeof numbers allocated to such individuals or accounts, the records beingphotographed on said im in sequential order, a projector including meansfor sequentially projecting said records on a screen from said tilm, areading head for scanning the magnetically encoded indicia on saidholder, rst registering means actuated by said reading head forrecording the number represented by said indicia, light-sensitive meansfor scanning sequentially the coded indicia on said lm, secondregistering means actuated by said light-sensitive means forsequentially recording the number represented by said last-mentionedcoded indicia, means for comparing the highest order digit of the numberrecorded on said rst registering means with the highest order digits ofthe number recorded in turn in said second registering means, and meanscontrolled by said comparing means for reducing the speed at which theprojector is driven whencorrespondence exists between the highest orderrecorded in said iirst and second registering means.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,124,906 Bryce July 26, 1938 2,294,734 Bryce Sept. 1, 1942 2,482,242Brustman Sept. 20, 1949 2,484,081 Dickinson Oct. 11, 1949 2,594,358 ShawApr. 29, 1952

